Combined display-case and valise.



C. BILLBURG.

COMBINED DISPLAY CASE AND VALISE.

APPLIOATION TILED Nov. 16, 1908.

933,874. Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

FT-EEFFE- CHARLES IBILLBUBG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED DISPLAY-CASE AND VALISE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

Application filed November 16, 1908. Serial No. 462,924.

To all whom tt'may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLEs BILLBURG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of lllinols, haveinvented a certain new and useful Combination Display-Case and Valise,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in display cases, that is to casesso designed as to be especially applicable for use by traveling agents,salesmen and like persons in the transportation and display of theirwares or samples.

The object of my invention is to provide a case of the charactermentioned, which will be in the form of a combination, the lower partthereof consisting of the sample con tainable or the sample display caseproper, the upper part thereof being of a design and constructionsubstantially the same as that of an ordinary valise or satchel, itbeing adapted to be used as such.

A further object of my invention is to provide a case of the charactermentioned, the sample display part of which will be adapted to containand efliciently and neatly display a relatively large amount of goods.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a case of the classstated, which will be of neat and finished appearance both when arrangedfor display and when closed and the parts thereof assembled fortransportation, the same being of such construction as to be of anoutward appearance, when arranged for transportation, substantially thesame as that of an ordinary valise or satchel.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

WVith these objects in view, my invention consists generall 1 in acombination case characterized as above mentioned, and in certaindetails of construction and arrangements of parts all as will behereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device the parts thereofbeing in assembled position, Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the upperpart of my device, showing partly the construction of the bottomthereof, Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the display case proper or lowerportion of my device in closed position, Fig. at is an end elevation ofthe same in opened or display position, a portion thereof being brokenaway so as to better illustrate its construction, and Fig. 5 is a detailperspective of a lower cornerof the display case proper in the positionas illustrated in Fig. 4, a portion thereof being broken away so as tobetter illustrate its construction.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates the lower part or displaycase proper of my device, and 2 the upper part or valise thereof.

In the display case or part 1, 8 indicates in shape, to the end portionsof which, vertically extending therefrom are suitably fixed the end wallforming members 4: of said case. Hingedly secured in any suitable mannerto the lateral edges of said bottom 3 are the side wall forming members5 of said case. The vertically extending edge portions 6 of the member4: are preferably reduced in thickness so as to accommodate the inwardlyextending flanges 7 provided upon and inwardly projecting from the endsof the side wall forming members 5. By such provision a neat andfinished appearing construction results, the outer surface of theflanges 7, being when the case is in closed position, flush with theouter surface of the end walls 4.

Rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the bottom 3 of the case, asby means of rivets 8, is a preferably rectangular tray 9 of a length andwidth slightly less than that of said bottom 3. A longitudinallyextending partition 10 divides said tray 9 into two compartments ofequal dimensions. Having their lower end portions pivotally secured tothe end walls 11 of the tray 9 as at 12 are metal frames 13 of alazy-tong construction. Secured between corresponding horizontallydisposed members 14 of pairs of said frames 13 are sets of trays 15 and16. Said trays may be formed of. any suitable material but arepreferably constructed of wood or sheet metal, the same being of alength the same as that of the tray 9 and of a width one-half that ofsaid tray. Said trays are of such a depth that when said frames 13 arein folded position, the separate trays of each of said sets thereof willrest upon and be in vertical alinement with each other, the sets thereofbeing in contiguous positions in vertical alinement with the tray thebottom thereof preferably rectangular 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.'YVhen said frames are in extended position, as shown in Fig. 4, all ofsaid trays will be fully displayed.

In order to facilitate the simultaneous movement, that is the opening orclosing, of the sides 5 of the case 1 with the folding or extending ofthe tray supporting frames, 1 provide links 17, the same being pivotallysecured to each of the fram s 13 and side walls 5 as at 18 and 19respectively. In order to facilitate the pivotal connection of saidlinks with said side walls 5, I preferably provide angular plate members20 fixed as by rivets 21 to said side walls 5, the lower end portions ofsaid links being pivotally secured to the projecting end portions 21 ofsaid members 20' The upper edge portions of the side walls 5 and the endwalls at Ofl'llkfi display case 1 are reduced in thickness as clearlyshown in Fig. 23, forming the external shoulder 22, for a purpose statedin the following.

The valise 2 of my device may be of any ordinary or preferred.construction, the bot tom 23 thereof being however provided with adepending peripheral flange 2 1. Said flange is adapted to snuglyreceive the reduced upper end portion of the display case 1, the samebeing of such a width that the lower. edge thereof will be adapted, whensaid valise is positioned upon said display case proper to rest upon thebefore-mew tioned shoulder 2 L provided upon said case. By soconstructing the upper edge portion of the case 1, the outer surfaces ofthe display case and the valise upon assembling the same will be flush,hence resulting in a neat and finished connection between said parts.Suitable locking means 25 are provided at either of the ends of thecontiguous edges of said parts, the same being provided to facilitatesecuring or locking the same together. By the provision of a combinationas de scribed, an agents or salesmans display samples as well as suchprivate articles as he finds necessary to carry about with him mayneatly and conveniently be transported 111 a walls hingedly securedto'saidbase and fixed vertically extending end walls, extensible framesof lazy-tong construction connected to said base, horizontally disposedtrayscarried by said frames, links connecting said side walls and saidframes whereby-extend ing or folding said frames causes thesimultaneousopening or closing of said side walls, said display case being open atthe top when folded, in combination with a detachable closure for saidcase comprising, a valise, and coacting means on the lower edge of saidvalise and the upper edges of said-fixed ends 'lor-detachably securingsaid closure in position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES l3lLlJB URGr.

Witnesses JANET E. HOGAN. HELEN F. LILLIs.

